My First Joint (Mortise and Tenon)

The weather today is the type of weather that might precede the cliché first line of a bad mystery – it was a dark and stormy night. It’s cold, dreary, and wet. Just the sort of day the trench coated ruffians might be plotting mischief on the London streets.

Of course, I’m far away from London, and not plotting mischief, but that miserable London-ish weather has stranded me at home with no work.

I’ve long been intrigued by post and beam construction, mortise and tenon joints, and any primitive woodworking done without modern fasteners and glues. Of course, I don’t consider myself a craftsman by any stretch of the imagination. I have a rudimentary ability with most tools and I dabble and tinker in all manner of projects, but that intricate joinery is beyond my abilities.

Nonetheless, I set out today to cut my first mortise and tenon joint. The first went so well that I decided to make another.

Don’t ask what I made. I don’t know.

I figured I'd try cutting triple through tenons. I'll definitely need a better saw and a few good chisels if I do much of this. I couldn't cut very accurately with what I have to work with.